• • • EV• • •
The need for speed. How transformative thinking is accelerating the EV charging infrastructure
There needs to be more than conversation around accelerating EV charging infrastructure bring EV transition closer. B
The recent change of government in the UK has put the spotlight on clean energy and the decarbonisation of our economy. It has also put the transition to electric vehicles back on track by reinstating the 2030 timeline for phasing out sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles. EVs are a key part of the decarbonisation
solution, but they can also be seen as part of the problem. As demand for EVs grows, there is a related growth to an equal demand for EV charging infrastructure.
The growth in EV numbers has seen a disproportionate growth in demand for power. Driver behaviour has sparked demand for rapid (50-149kW) and ultra-rapid (150kW) chargers on public networks. This puts more pressure on grid connections as Charge Point Operators (CPOs)
en Croxford, delivery director at Eclipse Power Networks looks at the opportunities that fresh thinking IDNOs are applying to
and commercial and industrial fleet operators want to ensure their applications for power connections from Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). And National Energy System Operator (NESO) are granted quickly so their projects can be up and running, returning value in a timely fashion. The result of the demand for the electrification of transport in the UK is, inevitably, a lengthy queue for connections. DNOs and NESO do not currently prioritise or discriminate by projects, so EV connections are in the same queue as new residential, commercial and industrial connections and renewable generation projects. Connection dates of 10-15 years in the future are not uncommon with the connection queue approaching terawatt territory. Investment in the UK’s EV charging infrastructure is currently high. A public EV charging hub presents an attractive revenue opportunity for landowners and retail/business site operators. It’s also an operational necessity for
18 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • SEPTEMBER 2024
industrial and commercial business fleets. However, when the timeframe is extended due to delays in accessing power from the grid, the investment looks a lot less attractive.
‘I’ is for innovation
and independence We need an innovative way to address the connection challenge, one that means stepping away from the traditional way of working with a DNO, with all its limitations, and working with an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) to get EV connections for new residential and commercial developments, and for fleet and depot charging for electric last-mile deliveries, LCVs, HGVs, taxis, buses, and emergency vehicles. Introduced in 2004 to increase competition in connections for electricity distribution, IDNOs, similarly to DNOs, design, own, operate and maintain electricity networks in the UK. Also, like
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